Sometimes, shrinking RIOC may not seem like enough. Really, a lot of us would like to get out the Magic Eraser and… But no, that can’t happen. But bringing the bloated ox down to sensible size should be possible.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Shrinking RIOC: Why?
The whys of shrinking RIOC are among the easiest tasks to which a researcher might be assigned. For example, having finished off 90% of its mission, the state agency evolved into a toad-like encumbrance with nothing better to do than fuel a patronage dump with unrestricted cash.
Just cut off the patronage spigot, and watch the magic happen.
The creation of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation in 1984 came with a lawful mission: “…design, develop, operate, maintain and manage Roosevelt Island.”
And that was conditioned on Roosevelt Island as “…a new community which would retain and heighten the benefits of urban living while preserving a sense of scale and open space for Roosevelt Island residents and New York city as a whole.”
Right away, you notice three items missing: marketing, branding and building a patronage dump. In other words, the state agency that never gets it wrong went seriously off the rails. Its deep thinkers could not, under New York State tradition, reduce government when it has no purpose.
The design was done, for all sensible intents in 2010 when the plan for FDR Four Freedoms State Park was finalized. There was development yet to come – finishing Southtown as well building the park, for example.
But when no more design was needed, preserving itself, even growing, RIOC started redesigning things with which everyone was already happy. As a shining example, The Daily gives you the Shelton J. Haynes/Langan Rock Farm, formerly known as Southpoint Park:
But there were wins
All in all, the development part did not go badly. The original WIRE buildings remain some of the finest in their class in New York. Big living spaces and a compact, caring community. And both Four Freedoms Park and the out of the blue surprise of Cornell Tech are world class wonders.
Although RIOC had little to do with either, it managed development of some good stuff.
- Manhattan Park lost some of its shine, but it brought a new element: market rate housing that spread through the Island, bringing a new cultural element to the community.
- The Octagon, also market rate, restored an historic structure left to waste. It’s residents-only backyard is a gem for relaxing.
- Southtown: The marriage with Hudson-Related combined the Island’s finest architecture with a cozy river-to-river neighborhood impossible to replicate anywhere else.
But all that’s in and done with the exception of Southtown’s final building, now tied up in a financing tangle. RIOC ought to take a bow and shrink gracefully where its staff is no longer needed.
But it won’t. Once New York State snares a tasty piece of the pie, they never put it back.
What’s left: operate, maintain and manage…
With its major assignments mostly done, RIOC should shrink itself honorably down to what it needs for operating, maintaining and managing, synonyms tucked in for God only knows what reason.
And with that should go some bloat, starting with the 50 member Public Safety Department. The little they do could be accomplished with many fewer. Bloating always means ineffective. Think: 300 pound sprinter. So, make some sense of it, already.
And let’s be completely honest. If Shelton J. Haynes has taught us anything, it’s that Roosevelt Island can do perfectly well without an Executive Director.
Let’s bring in some consultants not already compromised by connections in Albany. Have them look the toad over and see where some weight loss can lead us.
How-To Do It?
That’s all.
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The Budget Knew Before the “Emergency”
The demolition began on paper long before the City invoked emergency authority to carry it out. In RIOC’s fiscal 2013-14 budget, the Corporation set aside $7 million for fiscal 2015 for the complete demolition and cleanup of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant. RIOC called that figure its worst-case scenario, meaning the State corporation might be left responsible for the entire cost.
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